Knowing Paul Vallas: His Ethnicity, Political Career, and Family

Paul Vallas has captured public attention as a Democratic candidate for mayor in 2023. He emerged as the top candidate in the initial voting and is set to advance to the runoff round, possibly facing off against current mayor Lori Lightfoot. Lightfoot made history as the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Chicago but was defeated in her re-election campaign during a period of increased violent crime.

Vallas, a former public school leader, and Brandon Johnson, a county board commissioner, are the contenders in the upcoming runoff, following dissatisfaction with Lightfoot’s handling of the city’s crime and police management during the pandemic.

Paul Vallas’s Religion: Christian Or Jewish?

Vallas has not explicitly stated his religious affiliation, but due to his Greek-American heritage, it is speculated that he might be an Orthodox Christian. His career commenced in the 1980s as a budget analyst for the City of Chicago, eventually leading to various administrative roles in school systems and multiple runs for public office.

He has garnered praise for his leadership in school reform, fiscal management, and academic achievement, in addition to his teaching roles at the university level, having graduated with honors from Illinois State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Paul Vallas’s Background, Ethnicity, and Family

Born to Greek immigrants in Chicago, Illinois, in 1953, Paul Vallas was raised in the city’s South Side and its suburbs. His upbringing in a Greek-American family has fostered his involvement in various Greek cultural and community groups. Throughout his career in political and educational leadership, he has left a significant impact, albeit marred by personal tragedy with the loss of his son Mark to opiate addiction in 2018.

Vallas and his wife, Sharon Vallas, have three children: Gus, Mark, and Paul Jr. Vallas’ public service journey includes roles at the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission and as a municipal budget director for Chicago under Mayor Richard M. Daley.

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